PricewaterhouseCoopers Forecasts Modest RevPAR Increase in 2010

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today announced an updated U.S. lodging forecast that reflects the expected resumption of growth in the U.S. economy in the second half of 2009. While occupancy levels and average daily rates (ADR) in the second half of 2009 are expected to remain below last year's levels, resulting in a 15.7 percent decrease in room revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2009, PricewaterhouseCoopers expects that RevPAR will post modest growth in 2010.

PricewaterhouseCoopers' current lodging forecast reflects updated economic outlooks. After consecutive, substantial declines in real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009, the contraction of GDP is expected to moderate in the second quarter and to resume growth in the third quarter of 2009. By the second quarter of 2010, the U.S. economy is forecast to grow at an above-trend growth rate.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' current lodging forecast, lodging demand in the third and fourth quarters of 2009 is forecast to be 6.4 percent and 1.2 percent below last year's levels, respectively, resulting in an annual decrease of 6.2 percent in 2009. The year-over-year comparison in the fourth quarter of 2009 reflects the one-year anniversary of the abrupt decline in lodging demand in the fourth quarter of 2008. A deceleration of lodging supply growth is expected to result in an annual lodging supply increase of 2.7 percent in 2009. Despite slowing supply growth, this demand-supply imbalance is expected to compress occupancy levels by 8.7 percent in 2009, resulting in an average annual occupancy level of 55.1 percent. Furthermore, decreasing demand and reduced pricing power, combined with a reduction in the share of lodging demand being accommodated by hotels in the higher-priced chain scales, is forecast to reduce ADR by 7.6 percent in 2009.

In 2010, as the U.S. economy grows at an above-trend rate, RevPAR is forecast to increase by 1.6 percent. This gain will be driven primarily by a 1.8 percent increase in occupancy, as increasing demand and slowing supply growth are expected to increase the average annual occupancy level to 56.1 percent in 2010. Despite increasing demand, hotels, particularly in higher-priced chain scales, are expected to continue to face pricing pressures, resulting in a 0.2 percent decrease in ADR.

"Though business and consumer spending is expected to remain cautious, the anticipated transition of the U.S. economy from sharp contraction to modest growth bodes well for a gradual recovery in the lodging sector, which timed with a deceleration in the number of new hotel rooms entering the market, is expected to support improved lodging performance in 2010," said Scott D. Berman, principal and U.S. Industry Leader, Hospitality & Leisure, for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 155,000 people in 153 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network of other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.